Experiencing Pentecost

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Experiencing Pentecost will Require you to Wait

Acts 1:1–4 ESV

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;

Why did Jesus, after speaking for 40 days about the Kingdom of God, tell His disciples in Acts 1:4 to not leave Jerusalem but to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit?

Before Jesus had appeared to all of His disciples, the Bible tells us in John 20:19 where you could find them.

They were hiding in a room behind locked doors. Jerusalem was a dangerous place for Christ’s followers. Because they had just crucified Jesus, who knew which disciple would be next?

Jesus came with a message to His followers. What do you think that message was? None of the disciples had been able to pray all night with him in Gethsemane. Peter had denied Him 3 times, and every disciple (except John, the Beloved) had abandoned Him. What do you think Jesus was going to say to them? Surprisingly, He did not chide them nor was He angry with them. As a matter of fact, He comforted them by saying, “Peace be unto you. As the Father has sent me, even so, I am sending you.” Could God’s grace get any better? Jesus could have appeared through the wall and said, “Where is your faith? You have spent 3 years with me. Every miracle I did, you have had a front-row seat and now you’re hiding in a locked room?” But Jesus didn’t do that with them and He doesn’t do it with us!

Instead, Jesus spoke peace over them. He said, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” Now we come to Acts 1. Jesus is alive. He has shown them by many proofs and He invested 40 incredible days talking about the Kingdom of God. What do you think the disciples wanted to do?

No doubt they were ready to proclaim Jesus to the world. I can’t imagine their excitement. What could hold them back now? But instead of sending them out, it seems Jesus was holding them back!

We are an impatient culture. If we are not careful, our lack of patience will find its way into our walk with Christ. Is the Church suppose to wait to be empowered by the Holy Spirit today as it was in the Book of Acts? I think to a large degree, we are!

Note what Luke records in his Gospel in Luke 24:49,

Luke 24:49 ESV

And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

“And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Could this be what we are lacking in our Churches…power from on high? Sure we have great music, but music does not change people. Only the power of God can do that. We have speakers who are eloquent communicators…but people do not need speeches, lectures or even life coaches.

As a pastor, I am not called to be a motivator or life coach. I am called to preach with power from God’s Word. How can I do that if I am so filled with my pride and ego and not filled with the Holy Spirit? Listen to what Paul writes about his preaching in 1 Corinthians 2:4, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.”

Experiencing Pentecost Will Require you to be in One Accord

The first thing we said was that to experience Pentecost is that we have to wait. The second thing we must do is to be in one accord....let’s go back to Acts 2

Acts 2:1 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

So here we see them carrying out the ask of Jesus to wait, and as we see here in the ESV that they are all gathered together corporately and waiting together in one place. But I want to dig just a bit further and I want to take a look in the KJV.

KJV

Acts 2:1 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

Here in the KJV we find that not only were that gathered together in one place (geographically) , but that they were in one accord

The phrase "in one accord" refers to unity of purpose and action between people

Acts 4:32 ESV

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

It is an unescapable fact that the early church as sseen in Acts was galvanized together in a purpose to spread the Gospel and the truth of the ressurection. They were in one accord, they had a common purpose. One reason that the church today struggles in carrying out the purpose of Christ is that we have failed to be bound together in one purpose

It is through the Holy Spirit's empowerment that believers are able to live in one accord for the sake of the body, and ultimately, for God's kingdom purposes and His glory.

Experiencing Pentecost Will Require you to Boldly Speak the Truth about Jesus

Acts 2:1 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

Acts 2:12–13 ESV

And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Acts 2:14–16 ESV

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

Acts 2:22–23 ESV

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Acts 2:36–41 ESV

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.